Intimate portraits capture South Africa’s most celebrated

A stark look of contemplation is etched across Nelson Mandela’s face. Holding up a simple, chaste hand mirror, the virtuous former South African president gazes quietly at his reflection. A gentle but indomitable power emanates from Mandela in what would become one of his final portraits, captured by internationally-celebrated photographer Adrian Steirn.

This is just one of the hauntingly beautiful yet innately complex portraits currently on display as part of the 21 ICONS series at the Museum of African Design (MOAD) in Johannesburg’s vibrant Maboneng neighborhood.